Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (e-signature bill)

The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (often referred to as the e-signature bill) specifies that in the United States, the use of a digital signature is as legally valid as a traditional signature written in ink on paper. In effect since October 1, 2000, the U.S. law is expected to save companies that use e-signatures a significant amount of money by reducing the costs of mailing and handling hard-copy contracts and similar documents.

Download this free guide

Go Now: Malware Protection Best Practices

Should security teams clean up the malware and move on or format the hard drives to start over with a clean system? In this expert guide, security pros weigh in on how antimalware protects the enterprise.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

By submitting your personal information, you agree that TechTarget and its partners may contact you regarding relevant content, products and special offers.

You also agree that your personal information may be transferred and processed in the United States, and that you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy.

The Act does not specify a single digital signature technology. Many e-signature advocates expect that the public key infrastructure (PKI), used for authenticating credit card transactions over the Web, will play an important role in the development of secure e-signatures. Several third-party companies are now exploring other methods to verify a person's legal identity, including the use of personal smart cards, PDA encryption devices, and biometric verifications (fingerprint, voice, or iris scans). Experts agree that until the legality of e-signatures has been tested in the courts, the routine use of e-signatures is likely to be several years away, primarily because businesses lack confidence in present security and verification procedures.

0 comments

Register

Login

Forgot your password?

Your password has been sent to:

By submitting you agree to receive email from TechTarget and its partners. If you reside outside of the United States, you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Privacy